Recall 12V549 affects 26 2010 Nova Bus Nova Lfs transit buses for brittle emergency-egress window handles. Repair is free at any franchised Nova Bus dealer.
Nova Bus is recalling 26 2010 Nova Lfs transit buses because emergency egress window handles on Ricon 3-Minute Urban Transit Bus window sets can become brittle and break before the latch releases. If an egress window fails in an emergency, passengers can be trapped and face injury risk; the Nova Bus dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The emergency egress passenger windows on 2010 Nova Bus Nova Lfs transit buses are built to open from inside the bus when passengers need an exit. Each window set uses a handle connected to a latch; pulling the handle is supposed to release the latch so the window opens.
On buses equipped with flush-mounted windows and Ricon 3-Minute Urban Transit Bus egress window sets, the handle casting material was made with the wrong composition. That weakens the handle by making the material brittle. When a passenger pulls it, the handle can break before the latch releases, leaving the window closed.
There is no warning sign before failure. The handle looks like the part passengers are supposed to use, but the defect is in the material strength inside the handle itself.
Who's affected?
| 2010 Nova Bus Nova Lfs | visibility component |
|---|---|
| Units affected | 26 |
Not every 2010 Nova Bus Nova Lfs bus is on the list. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific bus is included.
What's the safety risk?
An egress window that fails during an emergency can block a needed exit and leave passengers trapped in the bus, increasing injury risk. If this 2010 Nova Lfs is included, keep emergency exits checked and schedule the recall repair promptly with the dealer. Repair will be free at any franchised Nova Bus dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2010 Nova Bus Nova Lfs is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Nova Bus dealer and ask whether the free egress-handle replacement is open for your VIN.
- Schedule the egress-handle replacement that fixes handles that can break before the emergency window latch releases.
- Bring the recall notice if Nova Bus mailed one. If not, reference recall number 12V549 when you call.
- Call Nova Bus customer service at 1-877-999-8808 with questions about the recall or dealer repair.
What happens at the repair
Once the dealer repair is available for your VIN, a Nova Bus technician replaces the emergency egress window handles. Ricon supplies the replacement handles, and the recall covers parts and labor. The source repair path says owner notices began on December 10, 2012. The repair is meant to restore handle strength so the passenger emergency egress window latch can be released as designed.
Timeline
| November 23, 2012 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| December 10, 2012 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 12V549?
Recall 12V549 covers 26 2010 Nova Bus Nova Lfs transit buses with flush mounted windows and Ricon 3-Minute Urban Transit Bus egress window sets. The emergency egress window handles have the wrong material composition, which reduces strength. Nova Bus dealers replace the handles for free.
What should I do if my 2010 Nova Bus Nova Lfs is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific bus is included in recall 12V549. If it is, contact a franchised Nova Bus dealer and ask for the emergency egress window handle replacement. Reference recall number 12V549 when you call. The repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the defect repair at no cost, and Nova Bus dealers replace the affected emergency egress window handles free of charge. Ricon supplies the replacement handles for this recall.
What is the safety risk?
The risk is passenger entrapment during an emergency. If an emergency egress window handle breaks before the latch releases, passengers can be trapped in the bus and face injury risk. Recall 12V549 addresses that risk by replacing the weakened handles for free.
When did the repair begin?
The recall repair began on December 10, 2012. Nova Bus owners can contact Nova Bus at 1-877-999-8808 or a franchised Nova Bus dealer to ask about completing the emergency egress window handle replacement.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/12V549000 |
|---|---|
| Nova Bus customer service | 1-877-999-8808 |
| NHTSA recall # | 12V549 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 12V549000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Defect / Noncompliance Notice (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on June 2, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →